AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team fought back from a halftime deficit to force overtime, but lost an 87-83 game to Augusta Wednesday evening.
The Pacers are now 18-8 overall and wrap up the PBC slate at 12-7. The Jaguars stand at 22-6 overall and 14-5 in league play.
Head coach
Mark Vanderslice's team was led by
Henry Bolton III's 19 points.
Mark Matthews tallied 18 points while
Jalin Barnes and
Christian Nobles added 16 and 14, respectively.
Nobles dished out a game-high seven assists while
Robert Hill accounted for seven points and a game-best 12 rebounds.
USC Aiken rallied from eight down at halftime to take a 48-47 lead on a jumper by Barnes at the 15:33 mark. The teams traded baskets and were tied at 63 when Nobles sliced through four defenders to convert a lay-up with 6:41 to play. Barnes followed Nobles' lead and did the same thing on the next possession, giving the Pacers a 67-63 edge.
Bolton III buried a pair of free throws at the 5:18 mark to push the lead to 69-63.
The Jaguars managed to go on a run of their own for a 75-73 advantage with 1:44 to play in regulation. However, Barnes hit a pair of free throws to knot the game with 57 ticks to go. After a strong defensive stand by USC Aiken, the home team held it for the final shot. However, Bolton III had a three-point attempt that rimmed out at the buzzer, sending the contest into overtime.
The Pacers took an early lead, but the visitors managed to go ahead 84-80 prior to Bolton III burying a three-ball with 49 seconds to play.
Trailing 85-83 with 25 seconds to go, USC Aiken missed a three-point shot and the visitors converted a basket for the final tally.
For the game, USC Aiken hit 26-of-65 from the floor (40.0 percent), including 10-of-31 from downtown (32.3 percent). The squad hit 21-of-30 from the charity stripe (70 percent). Vanderslice's team tallied 40 rebounds and dished out 13 assists in the game.
The Pacers return to action in the PBC Tournament Saturday at Columbus State. Tip-off is slated for 3:30 p.m.
